The Iowa women’s basketball team faced a setback this week, falling to the Minnesota Golden Gophers 91-85 in a hard-fought game on February 5. Despite impressive performances from Ava Heiden with 24 points, Chit-Chat Wright contributing 20, Journey Houston adding 15, and Hannah Stuelke scoring 14, the Hawkeyes struggled to maintain offensive momentum throughout the match. Minnesota’s exceptional shooting from beyond the arc—hitting 10 of 14 three-point attempts—enabled them to control the tempo of the game.
As a result of this loss, Iowa dropped three positions in the latest AP Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Poll, now ranking at No. 15. This marks a significant change for the Hawkeyes, who are now among six other Big Ten teams featured in the updated rankings. Notably, UCLA continues to impress at No. 2, followed by Michigan at No. 7, Ohio State at No. 8, Michigan State at No. 13, and Maryland at No. 20, while Washington secures the 25th spot. Both Minnesota and Illinois are receiving votes, indicating a competitive landscape in the conference.
To rebound from this recent loss, the Hawkeyes will compete against Washington (18-6, 8-5 Big Ten) this Wednesday, February 11, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game is scheduled to tip off at 6:30 p.m. CT and will be available for streaming on BTN+.
Despite the recent defeat, the Hawkeyes are resilient, and with notable players stepping up, there remains hope for a strong performance moving forward in the season. As they gear up for their upcoming matchup, fans are eager to see how the team will respond to the challenge and reclaim their position in the rankings.